IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAFETY OF CERAMIC FEMO RAL HEADS FOR TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT

Since 1974 Biolox ceramic femoral bail heads have been used successful ly for artificial modular hip joints. The revision rate due to ball he ad fracture is lower than 0.02%. This is an estremly low value. In thi s article it is shown how the safety of a ceramic ball head can be imp roved using the procedures of HIPing, engraving by laser technique, an d 100% proof testing. By applying these means the materials properties density, grain size, grain size distribution and the strength of the ball head, i.e. the fracture load can be improved significantly.